I am a Tombstone Tourist: someone who loves to wander cemeteries. I find it akin to visiting a museum: an opportunity to enjoy rarely seen sculpture, intricate carvings, and amazing architecture, all in a tranquil outdoor setting. This blog is about cemetery culture, art, history, issues of death, and genealogy - subjects of current relevance. I usually find something that intrigues me and makes me want to dig deeper. Care to join me? Read on...

Friday, December 14, 2012

Wreaths Across America - Saturday, December 15, 2012

Arlington National Cemetery

Tomorrow
marks the twentieth anniversary that holiday wreaths will be placed on veteran’s graves
in Arlington National Cemetery.What began as a labor of love for a Virginia man has grown into a national
organization known as Wreaths Across America. Wreaths are now being laid at
veteran’s graves and cemeteries throughout the country, in all 50 states, on one
special Saturday in December.

WAA Logo

Volunteers

Wreaths
Across America (WAA) is a non-profit organization that was founded to continue
and expand the annual wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
that began in 1992.Their motto:Remember, Honor, Teach, is still as
important and vital as it was when the organization began.

Military Graves

Unboxing Wreaths

Over 100,000
balsam wreaths will be displayed on the headstones at Arlington this year.Over 400,000 wreaths will be shipped to
locations throughout the US, and abroad.

Unloading Trucks at a Cemetery

S.A.R. Volunteers

This
year's annual theme: Then, Now, Forever – Let’s Make it Personal” was chosen because many military
families fear that their loved one’s sacrifice might be forgotten.According to WAA Executive Director Karen
Worcester, “Our goal is to make this year come alive in the stories,
imaginations, and memories of all those who serve and sacrifice.”

Awaiting the Veteran's Parade

Parade of Trucks

The
Veteran’s Parade is a week-long trip from Harrington, Maine to Arlington
National Cemetery in Virginia. WAA stops along the way for tributes and
ceremonies to remember our fallen veterans, honor those who serve, and teach
others about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.

Patriot Guard Riders

Trucks In Route to Virginia with Wreaths

The
Veteran’s Parade is escorted along the East Coast route by the Patriot Guard
Riders.The group volunteered
their services in 2006 and has continued to offer their support for the
weeklong driving event.

Children Line Parade Route

Volunteer Trucker Scott Harris

Over
50 national trucking companies have volunteered the use of their trucks this year, and
volunteer truckers from across America are giving of their time in picking up
and delivering the wreaths to designated towns across the country, just in time
for this Saturday's official wreath laying ceremonies.

All Veterans are Honored

WAA
uses live wreaths as a living tribute to recognize and honor those who served.They would like this
symbolic gesture to be seen as a tradition, as a living memorial to honor veterans and
their families.

Shanksville, Pennsylvania

Wreath Laying Ceremony

Wreath laying ceremonies will take place around the country tomorrow, in cemeteries large and small. A
wreath display will also be set up to honor the victims of 9-11 in New York
City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Wreaths
are paid for by individuals, groups, sponsors, and corporate donors. Individual wreath sponsorships are only
$15.Last year, over 1,100 groups
raised funds to assist the wreath sponsorship program. If
you would like to sponsor a wreath for the 2013 Wreaths Across Americas
Remembrance celebration, visit http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/store/

About Me

I
love wine and will take any chance to sip, savor and share it! Hence, Joy’s JOY
of Wine http://joysjoyofwine.blogspot.com,
a weekly blog about all things wine. I've been in the industry for 15
years as a winery owner, marketing director, speaker, writer, wine judge, and
100% vino girl!

I'm
also a professional freelance magazine and book writer uncorking articles about
wine, food, history, travel, cemetery history and culture. My interest in
cemetery culture led to another great, or maybe I should say
"grave" gig, my weekly blog: A Grave Interest http://agraveinterest.blogspot.com where I get to travel around the country and speak about cemetery topics for genealogy, history and
education conferences.

I suppose you could say that wine is my
passion, and cemeteries are my diversion ... into another world.

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